New Delhi, Dec 6 (KNN)  Government will take up programmes for providing skill development to at least six lakh people in the manufacturing sector during the current fiscal year, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister K H Muniyappa said today.

Addressing an ASSOCHAM conference, the minister said as many as 42 lakh persons will be covered under the Skill Development Programme of the government. The programme, he said, covers the entire value chain of manufacturing.   

The sector which employs an estimated 80 million people spread over 36 million enterprises has been provided Rs 24,000 crore in the 12th Plan against Rs 11,000 crore in the previous plan, he said.  

Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) which provides subsidies to entrepreneurs through banks, more than 2.22 lakh first generation entrepreneurs have been assisted since 2008-09 thus creating employment for over 20.42 lakh persons.

“The Ministry has now targeted over 100 new enterprises per district every year under PMEGP in all the 650 districts in the country. During 12th Plan period, the Ministry intends to create around 5 lakh such enterprises under PMEGP creating employment opportunities for around 40 lakh persons in the country,” Muniyappa said.

Stressing on  innovation and technology he  said that 18 Tool Rooms and technology development centres under the Ministry are providing both long and short term training to more than 1 lakh youth at present and additional 15 Technology Centres are being set up all over the country with investment of Rs 2200 crore.  (KNN/PC)